News from the Congregation October 9, 2020
A Congregation Guided by the Fruits of the Spirit; The Transcendence of Music; Mourning into Unity Vigils (Online and In-Person) | Sunday Programs (9:45 am Visiting with the Vicar, 10 am Genesis Bible Study, 11 am Worship Service, 12 pm Coffee Half-Hour) Weekday Programs (Tuesday YESS Bible Study, Wednesday Bible Study and Compline Service, Friday Midday Prayer and Meditation.
“What does it mean to be a member of the Congregation?” “How do I become a member?” “Do I have to be a Christian to join the Congregation?” “Do I have to join a church to be a Christian?”
These are good questions with potentially complicated theological answers. But this past week, in the Sunday morning Bible study and in the Wednesday evening group, we discussed a helpful—and simple—Biblical framework for answering these questions.
On Wednesday evening, we looked at Acts 2:42, which provides a definition of church based on its function: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
So one answer to the question, “What does it mean to be a member of the Congregation?” follows Acts 2:42. It means participating in Congregation activities that help us learn the apostles’ teaching, have fellowship with other members, receive the Eucharist (once the Cathedral resumes in-person worship), and pray for one another.
All four are essential church activities. I have heard from many of you of your pain in not being able to receive the Eucharist during the pandemic. I share that pain. This time of sacramental deprivation has been very challenging. But we should feel the same level of deprivation, and pain, when we do not have opportunities to form community with one another, or opportunities to pray for one another, or opportunities to learn the apostles’ teaching.
On Sunday morning, we looked at the “fruit of the Spirit” in Paul’s Letter to the Galatians (5:22-23). This passage gives a definition of church based on its effect: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Paul contrasts this fruit with the “works of the flesh” (5:19-21): “Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these.”
So another answer to the question, “What does it mean to be a member of the Congregation?” follows Galatians 5. It means that when we inspect the fruit of our lives, we see something more akin to “the fruit the Spirit” than the “works of the flesh.” It means that our time in the Congregation makes a visible difference in our lives.
We turn aside from the way of the world, a road paved with dissension, anger, idolatry (especially of the self), enmities, impurity, jealousy, and all the rest. Instead, we follow the Way of Jesus and learn to walk the path of peace, humility, kindness, and love.
Marsha and Tim
Our Junior Warden, Timothy Dwyer, reflects on the importance of music:
A year ago, we were eagerly planning a combined choir tour and pilgrimage for the summer of 2021 to explore the English roots of the worship, music, architecture, and history of our faith. Now that voyage, like so many other plans for this year, has been delayed. But it has not been cancelled. Plans are coming together for a pilgrimage in August of 2022 (details to come soon). Somehow or other, we will get there.
In a survey of the members of our congregation a few years ago, when we asked what kept people coming back to the Cathedral, music was consistently ranked as one the most important factors. Of course, music has always been a vital element in the Anglican tradition, and over the centuries some truly magnificent composers have enriched our worship. And at St. John the Divine we are particularly fortunate to be able to enjoy the talents of extraordinary voices and musicianship in an extraordinary setting. To see multicolored rays of sunlight beam through the stained glass and dance across the Cathedral’s magnificent arches while listening to the choir is perhaps the closest to Zen I think I’ve ever gotten. For me, the beauty filling my eyes and ears is vivid evidence of the divine at work.
I have been privileged to chaperone two choir trips to England, during which I was a fly on the wall as the choristers and adult choir members rehearsed long hours and toiled through some incredibly complex music. I then got to listen up-close as they sang flawlessly at places like Westminster, Canterbury, and St. Paul’s. Having witnessed that musical e pluribus unum, I had some serious doubts that these choirs, separated and compartmentalized by the pandemic, would be able to accomplish via zoom anything close to the alchemy they achieved when together under the same roof. Yet somehow or other, alone in their living rooms, backyards, and even their cars, singing into their computers and iphones, they do it. Following a conductor on a tiny screen and with the organist miles away, they do it. With uncertain wifi and zoom freeze-ups, they do it. I am reminded of that scene in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas when the citizens of Whoville joyously sing even after waking up to a Christmas morning without yule logs or gifts or trappings or even their cans of Who-Hash. “He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same!” (Having said that, I’d love to know what Tallis and Vaugh Williams would have made of “Fahoo Fores”).
In this time of loss and sadness, we are blessed with a music team who face a mountain of challenges and obstacles each week yet persevere and succeed gloriously. Somehow or other, they bring us beauty and light and hope when we need it most. Evidence of the divine at work.
Marsha and Tim
NEWS FROM THE CATHEDRAL
Over the past six months, the increasing toll of COVID-19 has devastated communities across the country. The burden of this pandemic, and the economic and social effects it has had, would be enough to break the spirit of the strongest individual. But our spirits have endured. United by sorrow, people are joining together to mourn and to work towards a new vision of national solidarity. The Cathedral, in partnership with Mourning Into Unity, will host prayer vigils on October 12 and 19 in solemn recognition of our collective grief and affirmation of our shared commitment to one another. We will build a bridge between the mourning that we must undertake and the unity that we need as we approach what promises to be a chaotic election cycle.
On October 12, join us for a virtual vigil, led by The Reverend Canon Patrick Malloy, Sub-Dean of the Cathedral, mourning all whom we have lost. Drawing upon the teachings of multiple faith traditions, participants will be invited to share their individual sorrows and take comfort in renewed communal bonds.
The following Monday, October 19, we invite you to join the Cathedral and interfaith community for a prayer vigil and candlelight procession beginning on the steps of the Cathedral. Building upon the liturgy of the Cathedral’s Episcopal heritage, this gathering will pay tribute to all of the lives affected by COVID-19 and gather together our extended community. During the event, social distancing guidelines will be followed to keep participants safe.
CONNECT
Saint Saviour's website and newsletter are maintained by members of the congregation, with content created by various ministries under the supervision of the Vicar and accountable to the Vestry to be consistent with the mission of the Congregation. For information about the website or its content reach out to the Web Sexton, Laura Freseman, at websexton@saintsaviour.org. For information about this newsletter or its content reach out to the editor, Neil Reilly, at editor@saintsaviour.org.
THIS SUNDAY, October 11, 2020
(To access each program on Zoom, click the link in the title.)
9:45 AM - Visiting with the Vicar
Join the Vicar fifteen minutes before Bible study to say hello and check in with other members of the congregation.
10:00 AM - In the Beginning: A Study of Genesis
Join the Vicar for a study of the first book of the Bible. Discover Genesis, not as a collection of ancient mythological stories, but as the Word of God addressing our fundamental and deepest needs. This Sunday, we continue our study of Genesis 3, under the heading: "Equals, Not Complements (Part III)."
11:00 AM - Congregation Watch Party for Cathedral Worship Service
Watch the Cathedral worship service on Zoom with other members of the Congregation. As a way to maintain a prayerful atmosphere, we will be turning off Zoom chat for the duration of the service.
You can also watch the Cathedral Worship Service
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/StJohnDivineNYC
On the Cathedral website: http://www.stjohndivine.org
12:00 PM - Digital Coffee Half-Hour
Join us at this week’s Digital Coffee Hour to meet members of the congregation.
WEEKLY CATHEDRAL CONGREGATION PROGRAMS
Tuesdays | 6:30 PM - YESS Bible Study
The Young Episcopalians of Saint Saviour continue their Bible study of the Gospel of Matthew.
Wednesday | 7:30 PM - Midweek Reflection and Discussion
This fall, join the Vicar on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 8:15 PM for a time of reflection and discussion about what the Church is and how it can provide us with spiritual resilience in these difficult times.
Wednesdays | 8:30 PM - Congregation Compline
Friday | 12:15 PM - Midday Prayer and Meditation
Join the Vicar for a simple 15-minute prayer and meditation service on Fridays starting October 2. Stay afterwards to connect with the Vicar and others in the parish.
Reminder: you can find a directory of weekly programs with links to each program’s Zoom by clicking here.